NYWayfarer

Lew’s makes Winn Grip paddle knobs. You can swap them out.

This is correct. From the review itself: The Pro-Ti SLP features two bearings per knob, two bearings under the levelwind, but no secondary bearing on the frame for the pinion gear I knew that as I checked my Pro TI when I purchased it for the P2 pinion. No idea when the new Pro TI's come out and if they will have this. Still a fantastic reel. It can be found for $250 on sale from time to time.

7 miles for my favorite lake. I can walk to the river as it is less than a 10 minute drive

Happy belated Birthday! You are only as old as you feel. My wife tells me I fish like I am 16, hiking and climbing to fishing spots.

I have found them extremely helpful and courteous. I was able to order spare spools for some of my reels. $5 a spool if they are available and they shipped fast.

I wouldn’t know I don’t own a custom speed stick lite. If you can find one $30 cheaper go for it. I rarely if ever buy fishing gear at full price. If no sales show up on my favorite rods, like the TP1 Black then I will wait for a good percentage off sale around Black Friday.

I find the TP1 Black is a great rod for jigs. I like the Vibration Transfer Ring for help with bottom contact baits. It gives the advantage to the TP 1 Black over the Premier. compared to the Premier it has a softer tip and is a lighter rod. Compared to the regular TP1 it has a different blank. I feel a noticeable difference in weight and sensitivity between the two. Enough to say I won’t be purchasing another regular TP1 Over the Black in the future.

Anything from the Spartacus price point and up should serve you well.

Lew’s Pro TI baitcaster and the Lew’s TP1 Black speed stick. That’s my combo and it’s sexy as hell. Because we all know 14 year olds care about how their stuff looks as well as how it performs. Who am I kidding, so do grown men. We are all 14 years old at heart.

Ditto.

The Lew's Hank Parker speed stick is absolutely a star of the under rated category! Another under rated rod is the Lew's SG1 speed stick for $49.99 I have been replacing any old or damaged rods with this series.

I hate to waste food. That attitude was taught to me by depression era grandparents. I did the human dumpster thing for years mainly for guilt of throwing away food. Sorry to hear about your brother A-Jay.

I believe its baitcasters that have the "P2 Super Pinion bearing supported pinion gear" on their website. This is an upgrade for 2020 The Pro LFS is one of the reels with the P2

Every time I see the title of this thread all I can think of is the "Monty Capuletti, regular guy look" pants. As far as fishing I wear old, comfortable jeans. I might get lighter material cargo pants for this year though.

The Lew's Speed Spool LFS comes in a combo now. I would suggest that. I have the Mach Crush combo and recommend it and the Mach 2 combo as well.

My goal has been and always will be to catch a fish on each outing.

Titan's fans should chant "MVP, MVP, MVP" every time Henry gets the ball like Raven's fans did for Lamar.

Or a boat prop :O

The exposed hook is what accounts for the great hookup ratio of this rig. Go with the O-Ring though. The O-Ring is used as a way to avoid the damage that putting a hook through the worm causes. That in turn helps to limit the amount of times a Bass shakes the worm off the rig.

In regards to cheap fishing gear sold on Amazon no review is needed to tell me to avoid it. You know what you are getting if you buy a Plussino rod or reel for $20 I have no problem reading reviews with a third eye. I look for reviews that address my concerns with the item I am looking to purchase. I then make up my own mind if a purchase is worth it. That is becoming a lost art.

I picked up the Ozark Trail 5 lure kit. 1 twitching minnow, 2 square bill crankbaits, 1 lipless crankbait, 1 popper. Best part is they come equipped with eagle claw treble hooks. Not the best but better than some mystery hook.

$15 Mike Bucca Baby Bull Shad.

Don't forget you get a rebate offer for a free pair of sunglasses with the Lew's I agree with J Francho and DVT basically the same reel with a different paint job and knobs.

I strip mine off by hand. Haven't bit the bullet yet to purchase the powered line stripper or drill attachment.

Guys the OP is past this, crisis averted. He is active on these forums since then looking to purchase deep cranking reels and Strike King line.